Pugwash

Was not impressed by Health Matters when I went there to get some Magnesium supplements (as recommended by my GP). There was so many different choices/strengths. Tried to get assistance but no joy- either too busy chatting or serving other customer, was not asked at any point whether I required help even though I was in there for a good 20 odd minutes. Also found the prices quite high.

Wish they get rid of the tree in Barry Rd adjacent to the Plough, The roots are all over the place, Council re tarmacked them some time ago but makes the pavement uneven. You cannot get a mobility scooter over them as tarmac slopes. Witness a lady with wheelchair trying to get over , in the end her carer had to help over with 2 crutches then push the empty chair over. Also young children using scooters/bikes have fallen off at this point. Hubby spoke to tarmac workers when the work was done and they felt the area was very dangerous to pedestrians and the council should have authorised the removal of both tree and roots. Some prams cannot get over as well. Prior to Christmas, mother/carer with 2 children in double buggy had to walk in road with on coming traffic. We do need trees I have 2 in my garden - one is well over 50 years old and we have it pollard every few years to prevent it damaging neighbours property.

Re tea cost at the Viet Restaurant. One small pot of tea we had two small cups out of it. If we had a pot each would understand the price but not one small pot.

We went there late November/early December. Very pricy, we had the lunch special which price wise was not too bad, very small glass of coffee £6 50. Hubby paid bill and said he should have challenged it as one small pot of Jasmine tea was £7 for the 2 of us.

With no banks in ED now, shop keepers need somewhere to bank their cash. There are plenty of local shops and services which take cash as well as cards. I went to the Forest Hill PO prior to Christmas looking for an ATM (I was shopping in FH at the time). Long queues no ATM but was told that the station had ATM. If LL PO goes, I assume that the ATM will go as well. This will leave only the Co Op with ATM. The Sainsburys Local ATM near the Library frequently runs out of money/breaks down due to constant use now Lloyds have closed.

Christ Church Barry Road has a Warm Hub for over 55s 10 am - Noon on Wednesday. Free drink and snack (toast/teacake/crumpet etc)

Some employers prefer older people as they are deemed to be more reliable, B and Q at one time had lots of 'older people'. I retired at 66 but on a casual visit to my old department, my former boss offered me a job saying I could name my hours. Would have loved to taken him up on it but the reason I took 'early retirement' was that my arthritis restricted my mobility re walking and standing for periods of time. I would say it may not be ageism but not being deemed suitable for the position. Someone I know was always looking for part time work but having spoken to her over a period of years, although she may have had the qualifications needed for the work, her general attitude towards others and her very set views, I could understand why she found paid employment difficult to achieve. Can you do voluntary work? This may give you additional transferable skills.

Not sure whether it would be allowed, but could your partner put a notice up where antenatal classes are held? Natural Childbirth Classes? Mumsnet? I had to do a child observation as part of my professional qualification, but this was 2 hours weekly for one term, I was at Goldsmiths' University and the criteria was that it had to be a child under3 years. I did mine at a local authority nursery. Even though I had 2 children (one being under 7 at that point) I found the observation of the 2 year old girl fascinating- you observe so much more as a student rather than a parent. Because i was focusing on one child, I was able to give feedback to the nursery staff as to the child's interactions with others etc.

The 'dodgy' first roofers did do a reasonable job on our boiler house roof earlier in the year. We got them via Check a Trade. The one we have now came via Southwark Trading Standard list of approved contractors.

Be careful- there are dodgy roofers about this area, we got scammed regarding our rear roof. Was quoted £16,000 . We got in another firm and a quote for £8,250. Trading Standards Southwark are investigating first firm as we lost £1,000, but Bank stopped further payments. If you PM me I will give you name of dodgy company.

We have 2 food waste bins. One is classed as a small caddy and it is lined with compostable bags. This is used on a daily basis and when full, bag removed and tied up and then goes into a larger caddy which is kept by the kitchen door. Each Tuesday we put out larger caddy for collection. Recycling is blue bin - any small left over waste can be put into black bag and placed in green bin. Or you can pick up recycling waste and pit in blue bin for next collection.

Many schools now give a year's notice of overseas trips due to the several hundred pounds costs. Friend's daughter went to India with her school about 15 years ago. Given 2 years to pay as over £3000 - it was for 2 weeks, I think they stayed in a youth hostel Even primary school trips are pricey. 10 year old granddaughter going on school trip - less than 10 miles from school - cost £40. daughter has a few months to save up for this!

Cuppa with a copper has been around for a couple of years, maybe longer. Some of you may remember WPCs Trish and Deepa who regularly held informal sessions at Christ Church. They found out more what was going on in the neighbourhood, what scams were about, who was causing trouble etc, burglary, intimidation, drug dealing etc. People, especially Mums with young children and older people felt more comfortable in this informal environment. Trish and Deepa's informal sessions were expanded later after pandemic to the roll out across the borough of 'Cuppa with a Copper'. There have been a number of such events in ED - Dawson Heights, a PH in Forest Hill Road. Many areas in London and England operate similar initiatives.

Many years ago my elderly aunt was knocked down outside what is now Sainsburys, by a boy cycling on the pavement. People witnessing the fall, tried to find out the lad's name, where his parents were also why cycling where people were shopping, Aunt taken to hospital with fractured hip and was reluctant to go out unless accompanied. From that point she physically declined, her health suffered and her happy go lucky personality went. We are talking about 40 years ago at least and people were rooting for bikes to have registration plates, and be covered by insurance.

Dulwich Hill SNT will have their quarterly evening meeting in December - I will check the date (it is in the first week)

Landells Road comes under the Dulwich Hill SNT, At their last meeting at Christ Church, car thefts were one to the statistics discussed. The problem is that everyone assumes that the police are useless, but so much crime goes unreported it sways the statistics and the wrong impression is given that the area has a low crime rate. It is known that certain roads are targeted for different reasons theft from cars, theft of cars, burglary etc Information given gets built up - Police can identify times of day, type pf vehicle etc and I have known them to 'stake out' in unmarked vehicles of an area which had an increase of incidents/criminal activity. There should be a cuppa with a coppa meeting at Christ Church on 25th November at 11 am. Dulwich Hill SNT will post details on EDF. There is also the quarterly evening meeting in the first week of December . I will post date on here.

I am a signatory of a trust fund which requires 2 out of 3 signatories, The investment company who manages the fund pay into the account by BACs but we pay the trust reciprocates by cheque.

Were things much simpler in the 80/90s? I remember both my girls belonging to a 6th Form Consortium which covered Sydenham Girls, Forest Hill Boys and Sedgehill off Bromley Road. A level classes were spread across the 3 schools - i remember Forest Hill boys coming to Sydenham Girls for one subject (think it was sociology or psychology ) A mini bus was provided to transport pupils to different sites, But I guess with less schools being 'managed' by the local authority, providers such as Harris etc have different priorities.

There are teachers who have extensive experience of working with children with SEN but cannot access training to become SEN assessor (sorry cannot think of the correct title - senior moment ) as schools do not have the budget to undertake this.

In certain cultures, it is the norm to have a period of singing at certain times after a death.

Charities rely on cheques. If you have ever been to a funeral recently, there is a tendency for family/friends to request donations to charities instead of flowers Cash and cheques are usually given (funeral directors usually prefer cheques which they send off to the appropriate organisations.} if you do not operate an on line banking account- you cannot scan cheques. Banks are still sending our cheques books and paying in slips. Churches still take cheques for one off 'payment' i.e. hall hire. Hubby received a cheque from Tax Office as they had over charged him. Also a cheque from a shares company - interest on a couple of shares- under £40 for the year.

Do you know whether Leon would be able to remove old double oven (in wall unit at eye level) and install new? Looks as though may have to splash out to get newer model.

Since the closure of HSBC bank in ED and Peckham, any cheques we receive (about 5=10 a year) go through LL Post Office. Agree at times long waits. Generally for PO type business - I go to Forest Hill. understand that you cannot process Lloyds Bank cheques through LLane.

More Like 70K. For a loft conversion Our neighbours did not pay this. Previous neighbours had wanted to do this but Southwark were taking so long at approving their application, they decided to look for another property. This was 2/3 years ago and it was costing around £35K. They ended up paying £40k more to secure a 3 bed property in Lewisham. Delay by Southwark was due to covid/working from home by planning officers.